Mets will give Wally Backman second interview

Sandy Alderson hopes to complete the first round of managerial interviews by this weekend, but The Record has learned that Wally Backman will be among the group of second interviews

The Mets have already interviewed five internal candidates – Backman, Chip Hale, Terry Collins, Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss – and began speaking with candidates from outside the organization Tuesday. The Mets spoke with Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale and will meet with Clint Hurdle and Don Wakamatsu today.

Alderson said that he will also speak with Ken Oberkfell, the manager of the Mets Class AAA affiliate, either Thursday or Friday in the Dominican Republic where Oberkfell is managing a winter league team, and that there might be one or two more candidates this weekend.

“I have been very pleased with the conversations,” Alderson said. “As far as a timetable is concerned, we certainly want to have a manager by the winter meetings (Dec. 6-9). It would be helpful to have it done by the end of the month and a logical deadline is Thanksgiving. I’m not sure we’re going to make that.

“Part of the timeline will depend on next week. We have industry meetings, GM meetings and owners meetings. We’ll try to work in interviews while in Orlando. It’s not clear how many will get done. If we have the first round by this weekend, the second round by next weekend and we’ll be on track to make a decision in late-November.”

Alderson did not want to speak about the individual interviews he has conducted, but Paul DePodesta, who was introduced Tuesday, did speak about his own experience with Collins. DePodesta tried to hire Collins when DePodesta was GM of the Dodgers.

“I think very highly of Terry,” DePodesta said. “I thought he was terrific. I thought he was a rock for us in player development. You know, (former Mets GM) Omar (Minaya) actually asked me about him about a year and a half ago, when the Mets were out here visiting San Diego. He had known Terry and asked me what my experience with him was. I told him I thought Terry was an absolute star in player development and was a huge help to the Dodgers organization. I think he was really helpful in the development of a lot of those young kids who are the core of their major league team right now.”

Asked what makes Collins a good candidate he said, “He’s done it before. Any of us who’ve been in these jobs, I’ve been through four organizations, hopefully that will be helpful to the Mets. Same could be said for Terry. He’s been a manager, been in the Far East, had a lot of success in player development. Everyone likes different personalities. I like Terry’s intensity. He’s a tremendous guy.”

Mets will give Wally Backman second interview

Sandy Alderson hopes to complete the first round of managerial interviews by this weekend, but The Record has learned that Wally Backman will be among the group of second interviews

The Mets have already interviewed five internal candidates – Backman, Chip Hale, Terry Collins, Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss – and began speaking with candidates from outside the organization Tuesday. The Mets spoke with Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale and will meet with Clint Hurdle and Don Wakamatsu today.

Alderson said that he will also speak with Ken Oberkfell, the manager of the Mets Class AAA affiliate, either Thursday or Friday in the Dominican Republic where Oberkfell is managing a winter league team, and that there might be one or two more candidates this weekend.

“I have been very pleased with the conversations,” Alderson said. “As far as a timetable is concerned, we certainly want to have a manager by the winter meetings (Dec. 6-9). It would be helpful to have it done by the end of the month and a logical deadline is Thanksgiving. I’m not sure we’re going to make that.

“Part of the timeline will depend on next week. We have industry meetings, GM meetings and owners meetings. We’ll try to work in interviews while in Orlando. It’s not clear how many will get done. If we have the first round by this weekend, the second round by next weekend and we’ll be on track to make a decision in late-November.”

Alderson did not want to speak about the individual interviews he has conducted, but Paul DePodesta, who was introduced Tuesday, did speak about his own experience with Collins. DePodesta tried to hire Collins when DePodesta was GM of the Dodgers.

“I think very highly of Terry,” DePodesta said. “I thought he was terrific. I thought he was a rock for us in player development. You know, (former Mets GM) Omar (Minaya) actually asked me about him about a year and a half ago, when the Mets were out here visiting San Diego. He had known Terry and asked me what my experience with him was. I told him I thought Terry was an absolute star in player development and was a huge help to the Dodgers organization. I think he was really helpful in the development of a lot of those young kids who are the core of their major league team right now.”

Asked what makes Collins a good candidate he said, “He’s done it before. Any of us who’ve been in these jobs, I’ve been through four organizations, hopefully that will be helpful to the Mets. Same could be said for Terry. He’s been a manager, been in the Far East, had a lot of success in player development. Everyone likes different personalities. I like Terry’s intensity. He’s a tremendous guy.”